Isaiah’s Terebinth Tree & Salt That Loses Its Savor
In the last days, only a portion of those who have entered into the Everlasting Covenant will endure to the end and avoid destruction. The rest will have become as “salt that loses its savor.” Isaiah’s metaphors illustrate the cutting back of the terebinth tree, and it regrowing upright again from its tenacious root stock. Those that prove true and faithful (the 10% of the 10%) will dwell in the New Jerusalem.
📖 Summary & Study guide
Salt That Loses Its Savor is Trodden Under Foot
Those among the lord’s elect, both men and women, join those who will not repent and return. They provoke the Lord into bringing them into severe bondage and then destruction (Isaiah 3:1-26, Isaiah Institute Translation). In the last days, the elect of God who cease to hearken unto the commandments of God and should have been the saviors of men, become as “salt that loses its savor” and qualify for destruction. These did not endure to the end (D&C 103:8-10).
Isaiah’s Terebinth Tree & The Final Pruning
God will preserve a remnant among the elect who remain true and faithful. They are lead out of bondage on an end-time exodus, then the final separation of the wheat and the tares happens. The Lord will protect and be with his people (2 Nephi 14:1-6 / Isaiah 4:1-6, Isaiah Institute Translation). The end-time servants then gather together of the Saints of God, which is the separation of the wheat and tares (D&C 101:63-66).
After the tribulation, the Lord then assembles his servants and commissions them in the final work of gathering. Joseph Smith leads an end-time exodus and establishing Zion (D&C 103:1-22).
Isaiah is a type for Joseph Smith in his end-time ministry. Joseph’s calling is to separate the wheat and the tares. This includes declaring the true doctrine of Christ, which hardens the tares while facilitating the ascension of the wheat. The Holy portion, or the 10% of the 10% who survive, qualify to enter into the New Jerusalem. (2 Nephi 16:1-13 / Isaiah 6:1-13, Isaiah Institute Translation)
Ammonihah- Learning From Alma’s Last Warning
Alma cries repentance to the people for the last time in Ammonihah (Alma 13:27-30). Those who offer a broken heart and contrite spirit receive more until they know the mysteries of God in full. Those who harden their hearts have their knowledge of the mysteries of God taken away. Eventually, they lose knowledge until they know nothing concerning the mysteries (Alma 12:10-11).
The hearts of the tares become sufficiently hardened that they cast out the men who believe in the words of Alma and Amulek and cast into the fire their wives and children (Alma 14:8-9). The tares in the city of Ammonihah are destroyed by the Lamanites (Alma 16:2-3).